The maximum production of lead in southwestern Wisconsin was reached between 1845 and 1847.

The evidence

• “After his death in 1809 nothing more was done until 1821, when the attention of American citizens was first drawn to the rich lead deposits of this region. By 1827, the mining had become quite general and has continued to the present time, the maximum production having been reached, however, between the years 1845 and 1847. The following table, prepared by the late Moses Strong, shows the mineral production of southwestern Wisconsin for the years i860 to 1873 in pounds:”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/03-wisconsin-topography-geology-agriculture.md, PDF p. 159

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources